Well bridging plug



Feb. 4, 1941, w. BENDELER ETAL 2,230,712

WELL BRIDGING PLUG Filed April 11, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3a v 46 .3/ j? ,2 .INVENToR 152951 maeerfmmm `ATTORNEYS Feb. 4, 1941- w. BENDELER ETAL WELL BRID'GING PLUG Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1l, 1940 Gp 4-)WM7 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 4, 1941 g UNITED STATES- azzurre WELL BBIDGING PLUG william Beumer ma cunard novara, omnuma om, ou.

Application api-11 11, 1940, sei-lax No. 329,183

. e 11 Claims. (Cl. 16S-13) This invention relatesV to a well plug, and more et carried by the wireline in removing the plug particularly, but not by way of limitation lto lan oil well bridging plug adapted to be positioned in an oll well or the like for the purpose of sealing or plugging oil a lower section of the well bore. When a lower oil strata has been exhausted or ceases 'to be productive, rather than abandon the well, it is often desired to exhaust oil from an upper producing strata. This is done by tapping the upper stratas, but prior to the tapping operation-it is necessary to position or set a bridging plug in the well hole to pack oi or seal water and iluid that may be present in the original lower strata. Heretoiore, bridging plugs once positioned in the well bore could only beremovedL by` drilling out the plug from the well casing, which operation in most instances consumes con- Sderable time. Furthermore, this drilling out lends the possibility of fracmring or drimng through the well casing, thusruining the well. It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a bridging plug which can be .set in a well hole, removed from the well hole and re-set in a comparatively short time.

A further object of this invention isto provide a bridging plug which may be lowered and positioned in the well hole by means oi' a wire rope or cable which-is releasable when the plug is in set position. Another object of this invention is to provide a removable bridging plug which when set forms a uld tight seal in the well hole and resists plressure thrusts from either above or below the P l1g A further object of this invention is to provide a -removable bridging plug which is so constructed that in lowering or removing the plug all possibility of drag against the well casing is eliminated. A

And still a further object of this invention is to provide a removable bridging plug' having a rubber sealing member cooperating with the well 5 casing and including a series of small slip members assisting the rubber sealing member in holding said member in an engaging position against the casing regardless of bottom hole pressure.

And an additional object of this invention is to provide a removable bridging plug which is positioned in a well hole bymeans of a wire' line whereby said wire line may be disconnected from the plug by a jarringaction, said plug so con-` structed with a wickered or serrated neck por# tion at the upper lend for receiving a special sock-i from the wellhole.

And still a further object of this invention is to provide a removable bridging plug of novel construction which is durable, efficient in its ac- 5 tion and will not independently release or slip once it is positioned in the well hole. f

Other objects and advantages of the invention lwill be evident from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accom- 10 panying drawings which illustrate one form of my invention.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section showing the bridging plug being lowered into the casing of a well hole. 15

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the bridging plug in set position in the well hole.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the bridging plug being removed from the well hole.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing the cable 20 tools connected to the plug.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on'lines 5 5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a view taken on lines 6 6 of Fig. l. Referring to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Figs. l, 2 and 4, the bridging plug 25 herein -illustrated is adapted to be lowered into the well casing i on a cable or wire rope 2 secured at the top' of the .well to a reciprocating walking beam or likedevice capable of producing a quick stopping action (not shown).y The 30 lower end of the wire or cable 2 is connected to a straight bar or stem 3 providing weight and adapted to receive a threaded socket d securing the wire. The lower end of the bar 3 is secured to a jarring tool 5 which in turn is threaded to 35 a drive collai 6 secured to the bridging plug. It will be apparent that the jarring tool can be of any conventional 'type to provide a jarring action in assisting the cable in .setting or releasing th bridging Plug in the well casing l. y

The bridging plug comprises a body portion 6rA mandrel 8 having a reduced upper neck 9 for'. re-v ceiving the drive collar 6. The drive collar 6 `is secured to the neck portion 9 by a stud or pin I0 disposed in aligned apertures of the neck and collar. The body portion has a central portion I2 of increased diameter provided with an outer taper or frusto-conical external surface i3 provided with serrations or projections it. A collar I6 preferably composed of durablefrubber or the like surrounds the portion I 2 and is provided with tapered aperture or socket I6 complementary to the taper of the portion'` i2. v y

The lower portion' 20,'of the mandrel 8 is substantially cylindrical and is adapted to receive 2 an apertured slip head 22 having a misto-conical or tapered outer periphery 24 cooperating with a "plurality of slips 26 (preferably 3), each having a complementary tapered internal surface 28. A nut 30 is threaded to the lower end of the portion 1 28 and is provided with an outwardlynprojecting flange 3| to prevent, disassemblyjof the various'elements of the plug. The outer periphery of slips 28 is provided with serrations or projections 32. The slips 26 are held inA assembled relation on the portion 20 by a smallhelical spring 34 disposed in one of the grooves provided by the serratiOns.

Alluding further to the rubber` collar I6, said collar is provided with a plurality of bores or vcavities 36 (preferably three) adapted to receive small metal blocks or slips 38 having serrations 40 and 4Iprovided on the outer and inner side faces respectively and disposed in an opposite direction t6 eachother for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth.

An annular ange or ring 42 is adapted to be spot welded at the upper end .43 of the nut 3!) for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. Furthermore, it will be noted that the upper end of the nut is provided with a tapered extension 44 extending axiallyO from the threadsv 46 Afor a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Operation Prior to lowering the bridging plug in the well Y casing I, a piece of bailing or smallwire 48 is disposed around the slips 26 for holding them in the position shown in Fig. 1`. The hailing wire 48 holds the slips in a retracted positionvto allow only a limite protrusion of the slip head I6 linto portions 28, t us preventing any drag of the slips against the casing during the lowering operation. Furthermore, the welded ring 42- `supports 0i the slips 26 in proper position during the lowering operation. With the plug lowered `into iposition to be set, a jerk on the wire linev causes a reciprocation of the plug andV slips, 'fractdringV the -bailing wire to allow further axial movement of the slip head 22 to move the slip radially outward against the tension of spring 34 and into Y will be apparent that engagement of the collar I6 with the casing likewise provides engagement of the small slips 38 and theirteeth .A40 and 4I with the casing I and mandrel portion I2 respec-` tively. .The engagement of slips 38 assists the sealing of collar I6 by resisting any bottom hole pressure. The serrations I4 of the mandrel are adapted to indent the tapered inner periphery I8 of the collar I6 .to prevent slippage between the mandrel and collar. It will be apparent that the shearing of the pin I0 releases the drive colla-r 6 from the neck portions to allowthe removal of the wire line and jarring tool when the bridging plug is in set position in the well casing. (Fig. 2.)

When i-t is desired to remove .the bridging plug from the'Well"hole,-the wireline Vv2, stem 3 and jarring tool 5 are lowered into the well casing,

but as shown in Fig. 3, in lieu of the drive collar 6, a special releasing collar 50 is connected to the lowerl end of Jarring'tool 5. A set of small slips 52 are disposed in the collar 58 and are adapted to engage lthe serrations 54 on Ithe neck portion 3 of the plug. In this manner the collar 58 lis connected to the mandrel, and an upward jarring action by the cable tools pulls the mandrel axially upwardagainst the bite of the small slips 38 and the indentions of the serrations I4 in vthe rubber collar I6. The upward pull and jarring action causes ashearing of the small teeth 4I against the outer periphery I3 of the mandrel 8 which releases the slips 38 from their frictional engagement with the casing I, simul-taneous with a 'release oi the collar I5. Furthermore, in the upward jarring action the serrations I4 merely slip out of the indentions in the upper collar I6 due. to the flexibility of the rubber collar.

A particular feature to be noted is that on the upward axial movement of the mandrel 8 and portion 20, the welded ring 42 contacts the under face of slips 26 breaking the weld and allowing the ring and slips 26 to move axially downward and rest on the nut ange 3| out of contact with Ithe casing I. The spring 34 reti-acts the slips 26, and in order to prevent any possibility of the slips dragging against the casing during removal of the plug, the tapered portion 44 of the nut 30 acts as a stop for the axial movement of the slip head 22 .to limit the downward movement of the head 22 to prevent any radial expansion of sli-ps 26. Upon removal of the plug from the Well hole, it will be apparent that the various parts can be re-assembled for a re-setting operation. Obviously, it will be necessary :to re-place .the small slips 38, shear pin Ill connecting the drive collar 6, as well as re-weld the annular ring `42. Y From the foregoing it will be apparent that this invention provides a well bridging plug capable of being set and released from a Well hole by awire cable, and 'when in set'position forms a fluid tight seal for resisting hydrostatic pressure either above or below fthe plug. Furthermore, the invention contemplates the elimination of all drag of the plug in lowering it into the well hole, as well as removing it from the well hole.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the speciiication and shown in -the drawings, it being understood that any modicationin -the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims :lvithou-t departing from the spirit of the inven- What I claim is: 4

1. In combination with a bridging plug adapted to be positioned in the casing of a well hole by a wire line and comprising a mandrel having resilient sealing means disposed thereon, a jarring tool secured to the wire line, a collar carried by the jarring tool, a pin connecting the collar to an upper neck portion of themandrel,

expand the resilient means into seal tight en" gagement with the casing.

2. In combination with a bridging plug adaptsaid pin adapted to be fractured by a jarring ac- I ed to be lowered into a well hole by a wire line and comprising a tapered mandrel having -a resllient sleeve disposed thereon, a jarring tool secured to the wireline, a collar carried by the jarring tool, means connecting the collar to the upper portion of the mandrel, said mandrel being actuatable by the tool to move axially, means on the mandrel for radially expanding the resilient sleeve into seal tight engagement with the well wall upon axial movement, and means disposed in the resilient sleeve for gripping the well wall and assisting the engagement of the resilient sleeve with the well wall.

3. In combination with a bridging plug adapted to be lowered into a well hole by a wire line and comprising a mandrel having a frusto-conical outer periphery with a resilient collar disposed thereon, a jarring tool secured to the wire line, a collar carried by the jarring tool, means connecting the collar to the upper portion of the mandrel, said mandrel actuatable by the tool to move axially to radially expand the resilient collar into seal tight engagement with the walls of the well hole, a plurality of slip means disposed in the resilient collar for gripping the well wall and assisting the engagement of the resilient collar with the well wall.

4. In combination with a bridging plug adapted to be positioned in a well hole and comprising a mandrel having resilient means disposed thereon, a jarring tool, a collar carried by the jarring tool, means connecting the collar to an upper neck portion of the mandrel, a slip head mounted on the mandrel below the resilient means, slips disposed on the mandrel below the head, means restricting radial movement of the slips during the lowering operation, said restricting means being rendered inoperative by a reciprocable thrust of the jarring tool to allow radial expansion of the slips by axial movement of Vthe slip head for anchoring the plug in the well hole.

5. In combination with a bridging plug adapted to be lowered into a well hole and comprising a mandrel having a. rubber sleeve disposed thereon, of a jarring tool, a collar carried by the jarring tool, means connecting the collar to the upper portion of the mandrel, said means adapted to be rendered inoperative by a jarring action of the tool fordisconnecting the collar from the mandrel, said jarring tool upon disconnecv tion being adapted to force the mandrel axially downward for radially expanding the rubber sleeve into seal tight engagement with the walls of the well hole.

6. In combination with a bridging plug comprising a mandrel adapted to be positioned in a well hole and having slips disposed thereon for anchoring the plug against downward movement, an expansible sleeve disposed on the mandrel for securing the plug against upward movement, and operating elements for said mandrel accessible from the upper end of the plug including, a jarring tool having a drive collar secured to the upper end of the mandrel, means securing the collar to the mandrel and responsive to a jarring action of the tool for releasing the drive collar to allow removal of the tool and collar from the hole, a retrieving' tool adapted to be carried by the jarring tool and lowered into engagement with the upper end of the mandrel, said retrieving tool cooperating with the jarring tool for moving the mandrel axially upward to remove the plug from the hole.

7. In combination with a bridging plug comprising a mandrel adapted to be positioned in a well hole and having slips disposed` thereon for anchoring the plug against downward move-r ment, an expansible sleeve disposed on the mandrel for securing the plug against upward movement, and operating elements for said mandrel accessible from the upper end of the plug including, a jarring tool having a drive collar secured to the upper end of the mandrel, means securing the collar to the mandrel and responsive to a jarring action of the tool for releasing the drive collar to allow removal of the tool and collar from the hole, a retrieving tool adapted to be carried by the jarring tool and lowered into engagement with the upper end of the mandrel, said retrieving tool cooperating with the jarring tool for moving the mandrel axially upward to remove the plug from the hole, and means preventing drag of the slips during the removal of the plug.

8. In combination with a bridging plug lowered in a well hole by a wire line and comprising a mandrel having resilient means expanded in seal tight engagement in the well hole, a jarring tool secured to the wire line, a retrieving collar carried by the jarring tool, slip means disposed in the collar for connecting the collar to an upper neck portion of the mandrel, a slip head slidably mounted on the mandrel below the resilient means, anchoring slips disposed on the mandrel below the head, a ilanged nut threaded to 'the'lower end of the mandrel and having an axially projecting portion, means carried by the nut for supporting the slips, said means actuatable responsive to a jarring action ofthe retrieving tool to allow the slips to move axially downwardly and inwardly out of contact with the well hole, said nut projecting portion Hunting downward movement of the slip head to prevent radial expansion of the slips in the removing operation.

9. In combination with a bridging plug adapted to be positioned in a well hole by a wire line and comprising a mandrel having a frusta-conical outer periphery-with vresilient; sealing means disposed thereon, a jarring tool secured to the wire line, a collar carried by the jarring tool, means connecting the collar to a serrated-neck portion of the mandrel, a slip head slidably mounted on the mandrel below the resilient means, 'slips disposed on the mandrel below the` head, means restricting radial movement of the slips during the lowering operation, said restricting means actuatable responsive to a jarring action to allow radial expansion of the slips by the slip head for anchoring the plug in the well hole, and said connecting means releasable responsive to a continued jarring action by the tool to disconnect the collar from the mandrel to allow axial4 movement of the mandrel for radially expanding the resilient means.

10. In a bridging plug comprising a mandrel, a resilient collar disposed on the mandrel, a slip head freely slidable on the mandrel below the collar, slips disposed on the mandrel below the slip head, a flanged nut secured to the lower end of the mandrel, a slip supporting ring secured to the nut, said nut provided with an axially projecting portion extending above the ring, said supporting ring adapted to-bemoved downward upon a release of the slips whereby said slips are moved out of contact with the well hole, said nut projecting portion limiting downward movement of the slip head to prevent expansion of the slips during removal of the plug.

11. In combination with a plug adapted to be lowered into a well hole on a wire line, a mandrel having a rubber collar disposed thereon, a jarring tool secured to the wire line, andI releasable means connecting the mandrel to the jarring tool, a slip head slidably mounted on the mandrel below the rubber collar. slips disposed on `the mandrel below the head, means restraining axial movement-of the slip head tor preventing radial movement of the slips during the lowering operation, said restraining means being rendered inoperative by a jarring action .of the tool pand the collar into seal tight engagement with 5 the walls of the hole. f

WILLIAM BENDELER. CLIFFORD HOWARD. 

